NHIAA Boys' Lacrosse: Bedford proving Division I-worthy

BEDFORD - Host Bedford used a four-goal second quarter to pull away from Exeter for an 8-5 victory in an inter-divisional game Saturday morning.

The Division II Bulldogs improved to 3-0 while the Blue Hawks are still winless at 0-2 in Division I.

.The game was the first of four against D-I opponents for Bedford, which will move up a division next year.

"They're a D1-caliber team," said Exeter coach Gerry Holly. "They can play with anyone."

Senior captain Dan Colella led the scoring for Bedford with four goals, while Sam Stanton had three assists. Brad Simas had two goals for Exeter."We brought the intensity, and I think they came out a little flat," said Bedford coach Matt Guerard. "We got the jump in the intensity, and that helped us from the start."..The game began as a tightly played defensive contest, with neither team able to generate much offense. Simas put the Blue Hawks on the board first, a little more than three minutes into the game, but 40 seconds later, Tyler Sullivan tied the game...The Bulldogs went on to score the next five goals, three of them by Colella, to take a 6-1 lead into halftime.

"We changed some things up in the second quarter and went into a new offense to generate more goals," Guerard said..."We couldn't possess the ball," Holly said. "They outworked us on the ground."

Exeter would outscore Bedford 4-2 in the second half but could not make up the deficit. "I though (Exeter goalie) Cole Finerty played well today," said Holly. "At one point he was our best defense."..With fewer scoring chances, the Bulldogs relied on their defense to get things done, especially on penalties. "I think the key was our man-down play today."

Colella has 12 goals Bedford's three games and also leads the team in assists. "He's determined to put the ball in the back of the net no matter how it goes in," Guerard said...Girls' Lacrosse